Why Artists Can't Hide Their DNA and Need Community to Thrive with Jennifer Higgie

In this episode, Ceri speaks with Jennifer Higgie, whose evolution from painting lemons to shaping Frieze magazine spans more than two decades. She opens up about the realities of the art world, the necessity of creative discipline, and her mission to respect artists' work with authenticity. Through her shift from art critic to author uncovering hidden women artists in art history, Jennifer demonstrates what it takes to build and sustain a creative life. Her thoughts and experience of writing's emotional toll and the exposure of sharing creative work resonate deeply, while her practical experience serves as both a roadmap and reminder for other creatives. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Jennifer developed her disciplined approach to writing through 23 years at Frieze, treating it like a ‘normal’ job with strict deadlines and word counts while learning the importance of stopping at the right time to maintain quality
• She deliberately positioned herself as an "enthusiast" rather than a critic, choosing to write primarily about work she felt passionate about rather than producing negative criticism
• To sustain her writing career, she worked as a waitress for 15 years, preferring this to desk jobs as it didn't interfere with her creative headspace
• She built and maintained vital creative networks across London, Berlin and Australia that have supported her throughout her career transitions
• After experiencing burnout and anxiety, she sought CBT support, which helped her learn to distinguish between real and hypothetical anxieties
• Her research into overlooked women artists led her to discover how much messier and more inclusive art history is than she was taught
• As reviews editor at Frieze, she developed a systematic approach to balance coverage between established institutions, emerging artists and everything in between.
• Her experience taught her that writing requires accepting that most work goes into a void of silence, with rare but meaningful moments of connection with readers

BEST MOMENTS

"Writing is very much like dropping a pebble into a very deep pool or well, and very occasionally you hear a faint splash, and that's about it"

"The idea of super bohemian artists going wild and drinking or taking lots of drugs... you can't last very long if you do that"

"Paintings are like portals, you look in, you look into them, and you go into them, and then you travel around a bit, and you come out again"

"Everyone has a story...and it's your responsibility to find out what that story is"

"Art history was for too long taught as if it was carved in stone"

"I'm infuriated by the idea that history was written as if it was all about white male achievement"

EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest Links:

https://www.jenniferhiggie.com/

Instagram @jennifer_higgie

Book Link:

https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/jennifer-higgie/the-other-side/9781474623322/

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

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